A multilocus phylogeny of Malagasy scincid lizards elucidates the relationships of the fossorial genera Androngo and Cryptoscincus

A phylogeny for 29 species of scincine lizards from Madagascar, based on 3693 bp of six mitochondrial and five nuclear genes, revealed multiple parallel evolution of adaptations for a burrowing life, and unexpected relationships of the monotypic genera Androngo and Cryptoscincus. Androngo trivittatus was sister to Pygomeles braconnieri, and Cryptoscincus minimus was deeply nested within the genus Paracontias, all of these being fossorial taxa of elongated bodies and partly or fully reduced limbs. To account for these results, we place Cryptoscincus as a junior synonym of Paracontias, and discuss possible taxonomic consequences that may affect the status of Androngo, once additional data become available. © 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.